Help your Guests Celebrate the Fourth of July with these Festive promotions

PICNIC! — Put together a special indoor picnic menu with a gourmet twist and offer it over the holiday weekend. Items and selections could include hot dogs (various wursts), baked ham, potato salads and slaws, fruit compotes, watermelon ices and special fruit-based cocktails or chilled microbrewed beers. Picnic menus can be served in the restaurant or specially packed in picnic baskets to be enjoyed while watching the parade or fireworks. Have paper items, such as picnic table spreads and napkins printed with your restaurant’s logo to be included with each to-go order.

She’s a Grand Old Flag — Serve free red, white and blue desserts, such as cherry and blueberry tarts topped with whipped cream or strawberry, boysenberry and vanilla ice cream dishes, to any guest wearing read, white and blue on July 4th.

Freedom from Dishes Day — Offer your guests a half-price adult entrée with the purchase of any á la carte adult entrée.

Bring on the Fireworks! — Offer a special fireworks menu consisting of fire-roasted or grilled entrées and comp one entrée per four-top. Top off the festivities with a flaming dessert.

Promote your Fourth of July offerings with menu inserts and emails to your guest database. Check your local newspaper for Fourth of July activity listings and run small space ads. Sponsor one or more of the holiday activities. For example, you can contribute to the fireworks display or sponsor a marching band.